Fiber optic telecommunications card with energy level monitoring

ABSTRACT

A transceiver card for a telecommunications box for transmitting data over a first optical fiber and receiving data over a second optical fiber. The card has transmitter for transmitting data over the first optical fiber, the transmitter having a laser and a modulator, a fiber output optically connected to the laser for connecting the first optical fiber to the card, a fiber input for connecting the second optical fiber to the card, a receiver optically connected to the fiber input for receiving data from the second optical fiber, and an OTDR optically connected between the transmitter and the fiber output or between the receiver and the fiber input. An energy level detector is also provided between the receiver and the fiber input.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,643, filed Jul. 3, 2002, and claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/303,932, filed Jul. 9, 2001, both applications are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications and more particularly to transmitters and receivers for fiber optic networks.

2. Background Information

In current fiber optic networks, an electronic data stream is fed to an optical fiber multiplexor, which is also called “a box” in the industry. Each multiplexor runs on a specific transmission standard, for example, SONET. A laser and an amplitude modulation circuit for the laser typically are located on a card, which fits into the box. The laser amplitude modulator typically pulses or alters the laser output to create an amplitude-modulated optical signal representative of the electronic data stream. The laser amplitude modulator and laser thus define a transmitter for transmitting the optical signal over an optical fiber. A receiver for the amplitude-modulated optical signals of the optical data typically includes a photodiode to convert the optical signals back into the electronic data stream. Both the transmitter and the receiver typically are located on the backplane of a single card, which is replaceable should a component fail.

The card typically also contains a connector for receiving at least one optical fiber, for example a duplex SC connector. The connectors normally are located on a faceplate of the card, the faceplate being perpendicular to the backplane.

The reading of the amplitude-modulated optical data signals using the photodiode on the card is straightforward: the optical signals either produce an electric output at the photodiode or they do not. As a result, an output electronic data stream of zeros and ones is generated.

The electronics for the amplitude modulation of the laser and for the receiving of the optical data on the card thus is relatively simple. All that is required is a pulsing circuit for pulsing the laser as a direct function of the input data and a photodiode for the receiver.

Existing amplitude modulated systems have the disadvantage that the fiber can be easily tapped and are not secure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,698 purports to disclose a secure fiber optic communications system based on the principles of a Sagnac interferometer. A data transmitter is a phase modulator for modulating counter-propagating light beams sent by a receiver round a loop. The receiver includes a light source, a beamsplitter for splitting light from the light source into counter-propagating light beams and for receiving the phase-modulated light beams, and an output detector. U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,967 describes a similar Sagnac-interferometer-based system operating over a single optical fiber.

The Sagnac-interferometer-based systems described in these patents have the disadvantage that they require the light to travel over a loop, whether back and forth in a single fiber or over a long length looped fiber. As a result, either the link budget for the single fiber must be doubled, reducing the data carrying capacity for a single fiber, or else a looped fiber with significant and expensive extra length of at least twice that of a single fiber must be laid between the transmitter and the receiver. Moreover, the receiver contains the light source, as opposed to the current installed base where the transmitter has the light source.

The Sagnac-interferometer-based systems thus are expensive to build and operate, and do not work particularly well with existing multiplexors or card formats.

Several companies currently provide OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometers) which can monitor an optical fiber and determine if the presence of and location of a break in the fiber. Such companies include Youth Communication Co. with the MW Series Mini-OTDR and OTDR modules from Tekronix Communications.

These detectors however are expensive and must be applied to the fiber away from the box.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,727 discloses details of OTDR technology and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a transceiver card for providing secure optical data transmission over optical fiber. Another alternate or additional object of the present invention is to provide for replacement of existing cards with a transceiver card permitting ODTR and tapping detection capabilities.

The present invention provides a transceiver card for transmitting data over a first optical fiber and receiving data over a second optical fiber, the card having a transmitter for transmitting data over the first optical fiber and a receiver for receiving data from the second optical fiber, and an OTDR connected optically to the second optical fiber upstream from the receiver. Preferably, the OTDR operates at a wavelength that is different than the wavelength used for data transmission and is connected in the optical circuit via a wavelength division multiplexed coupler. By operating the OTDR at a wavelength different than the wavelength used for data transmission, the OTDR may be allowed to continuously operate without disruption of the data traffic.

Preferably, an energy level detector is also provided on the card. The energy level detector is preferably optically connected to the second fiber between the OTDR and the receiver.

The OTDR preferably is monitored by an embedded processor within the box. The processor analyzes the OTDR output data to determine if the characteristics of the optical fiber system have changed relative to a reference characteristic. If the optical fiber system has changed relative to the reference OTDR characteristic, then a degradation of the optical fiber system, which may indicate a fiber breach or a fiber tap, can be logged along the position of the degradation source relative to the location of the OTDR. The indication of degradation of the fiber system may provide an alarm signal, for example an electronic signal sent to a network operations center to indicate the measured degradation of the fiber system along with the approximate location of the degradation point, a light on the outside of the box or a sound-emitting alarm. Alternatively, the OTDR output may be connected to a display model via an electrical connection on the card for display to a human operator, or transferred by the transceiver to be analyzed at the network operations center.

The transceiver card of the present invention preferably has fiber span length ranges for operation that are compatible with standard optical multiplexor operation, for example, two to twenty kilometers or ten to one hundred kilometers. The OTDR and energy level detector must have a measurement dynamic range that ensures proper operation over the span length limits of the transceiver card. By specifying fiber span length ranges for the OTDR and energy detector enhanced transceiver, the cost of implementation of the OTDR and energy level detector can be optimized with span length thus providing an optimized cost of implementation benefit to the customer.

The present invention thus permits a card-based transmission system incorporating an energy level detector for optical tap detection, which can provide for more secure data transmission than existing amplitude-based cards along with breach localization services from the OTDR. Because of advances in semiconductor and optical component packaging, the OTDR and energy level detector parts along with the optical transmitter and receiver components can fit all on one card compatible with most existing box dimensions.

The transmitter light source preferably is a laser, for example a semiconductor laser operating at a 1550 nm, or other, wavelength.

Preferably, the energy level detector provided on the card for measuring light energy in a fiber is connected electronically to an alarm, so that when a drop or increase in the energy level is detected, which may indicate a tap, the card may provide an alarm signal, for example an electronic signal sent to a network operations center to indicate a drop or increase in the optical energy level, a light on the outside of the box or a sound-emitting alarm. Depending upon the optical transmission method implemented, a successful tap may be placed by adding light to the system through the tapping device. Implementations of the single fiber Sagnac transmission method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,967 may be susceptible to such a tapping method unless an energy level detector that monitors for an increase or decrease in the optical signal level is included as part of the design.

The card includes an optical fiber interface for at least one fiber, and preferably for two fibers. The interface may be a duplex SC connector, for example.

The card preferably is a replacement part for an existing optical multiplexor transceiver card.

The present invention also provides a method for providing a continually operating or, preferably, a commanded operation OTDR within an existing box including the steps of:

-   -   removing an existing transceiver card; and     -   replacing the transceiver card with the card of the present         invention.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an optical transceiver card for transmitting data over at least one data transmitting optical fiber, the card having a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   placing a transmitter on a printed circuit board,     -   placing a receiver on a printed circuit board; and     -   placing an OTDR on the printed circuit board.

Preferably, an energy level detector is also placed on the printed circuit board, and a light is connected to a faceplate connected to the printed circuit board, the light indicated a change in energy at the detector or degradation of the optical fiber system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a card of the present invention located in an existing telecommunications box, such as a mutliplexor; and

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the transceiver of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a description of an analog energy level detector of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an existing telecommunications box 2, for example a multiplexor, refitted with a card 1 of the present invention. Box 2 has an electronic data input 3 and output 4, which connect to a motherboard 5 of the box 2. Motherboard 5 includes a bus 6 for connecting existing amplitude-based cards to the motherboard 5, and connects the input 3 and output 4, through for example, data conversion circuitry, to the bus 6. The type of bus 6 is dependent upon the box manufacturer, and different types of boxes, motherboards and buses are well known in the art. Card 1 of the present invention includes electrical connections 8 to fit into bus 6.

Card 1 also includes a faceplate 9 and a backplane 7, which preferably is a printed circuit board. Faceplate 9 may be perpendicular to backplane 7 and be flush with a front side of box 2.

Faceplate 9 may have a fiber connector 109, such as a duplex SC connector, for connecting to an output fiber 110 and an input fiber 111. Alternately, a single fiber for inputting and outputting signals could be provided.

FIG. 2 shows the card 1 of the present invention in more detail. A transmitter 10 transmits signals over optical fiber 110. Transmitter 10 includes a single laser 12, for example a semiconductor laser emitting a narrow band of light at approximately 1550 nm, or at other wavelengths. Light emitted from laser 12 passes through a modulator 16, for example an amplitude or phase modulator, directly next to or part of the same package as laser 12. The light may be depolarized by a depolarizer 14. An electronic controller 18, preferably manufactured directed on the printed circuit board of backplane 7 (FIG. 1), controls modulator 16 and may provide power to laser 12 Input data 19 is fed to the controller 18, which then controls modulator 16 to modulate the light from laser 12 as a function of the input data 19.

The transceiver of the present invention preferably operates in a phase-modulated mode, though conventional amplitude-modulated transmitters and receivers, including those using return-to-zero type signals, for example, may also be used. The phase-modulated signals have the advantage that breach detection by the energy level detector work more effectively, since the amplitude of the optical signal is constant and thus a drop in the optical signal level is more easily detected.

Optical signals are received at connector 109 from fiber 111.

Receiver 11 includes two coupler/splitters 31 and 131, each functioning as a splitter. Splitter 131 is preferably a wavelength division multiplexed coupler/splitter to allow the OTDR 132 to operate at one optical wavelength, for example 1670 nm, while the transmitted data stream 19 and received data stream 34 are carried on a different wavelength, for example 1550 nm. This functionality allows the OTDR 132 on transceiver card 1 to be commanded to continuously operate without interruption or corruption of the received data stream 34. Splitter 131 splits off the wavelength of light applicable to the OTDR into fiber 133, which has an input to OTDR 132. Splitter 31 then splits off a portion of the remaining other light, directing part of the optical energy to an energy level or tap detector 33 and passes the residual light to an optical receiver 32. Optical receiver 32 converts the optical signal from optical to electronic form to recover the electronic data stream 34 as appropriate for the optical modulation technique employed.

OTDR 132 has a control circuit 134 and a bus 135 which allows the device to be controlled by a processor. The OTDR thus can monitor the fiber 111 and provide information through bus 135 to a processor for determining the location of a breach or tap.

Detector 33 monitors the light energy in the fiber 111 via the light energy coupled to the detector by splitter 31. if the amplitude drops during monitoring, which may indicate a tap, the detector 33 provides an alert and can, for example, send and electronic signal to the processor via bus 135 to indicate a drop or increase in the optical energy level, sound an alarm or alert network maintenance personnel, for example through an LED 133 or by sending an alarm message using transmitter 10. Another LED 134 can provide an indication of proper signal reception. An energy level detector control circuit 233 controls the alarm threshold and energy detection and provides output indications from the energy detection circuit to a processor via bus 135 which may be shared with the OTDR control circuit 134.

FIG. 3 shows the energy level detector 33 of the present invention in more detail. The energy level detector 33 described by FIG. 3 represents a preferred analog implementation, with other implementation circuits possible, for bounding the optical energy within an acceptable range with thresholds which may be programmable.

A photodetector or other optical to electrical conversion device 153 measures the optical signal coupled to its input by coupler/splitter 31. The output of photodetector 153 is an electrical voltage whose level correlates to the optical power at the input to the photodetector 153 based upon the photodetector 153 transfer optical to electrical conversion transfer function. Depending upon the electrical bandwidth of photodetector 153 and the optical signal format present at the input to photodetector 153, the electrical signal may be filtered by a low pass filter 154 to provide an average voltage level which represents the average optical power measured by photodetector 153. After filtering the signal, the electrical signal may be conditioned and scaled by either a logarithmic or linear amplifier 155. Scaling the data may be necessary to ensure that energy level detection can be made without performance degradation over the span length range required for the circuit. The choice of scaling type is chosen primarily based upon the optical to electrical conversion transfer function of the photodetector and the range of expected optical power levels at the photodetector 153 input based upon span length ranges. Generally, the transfer function of semiconductor photodetection devices is exponential with respect to optical to electrical conversion. For such components, the cascade of an exponential photodetector with a logarithmic amplifier offers the advantage of providing a net linear transfer function from optical power at the input to the photodetector to voltage at the logarithmic amplifier. Thus, a digitally programmable detection threshold can be developed which offers the same resolution per bit regardless of the span length of the device.

The electrical signal, after being scaled by the linear or logarithmic amplifier 155, is compared to reference voltages by one or more comparators. As shown in FIG. 3, comparator 156 will transition from a low to high output when the voltage output from the logarithmic or linear amplifier 155 exceeds the reference voltage established by the digital to analog (D to A) converter 158. Conversely, comparator 157 will transition from a low to high output when the voltage output from the logarithmic or linear amplifier 155 falls below the reference voltage established by the digital to analog converter 159. The output of OR gate 160 will transition from low to high when either the output of comparator 156 or comparator 157 transitions from low to high. For the example of FIG. 3, an alarm state is said to exist when the output of OR gate 160 is high. To indicate an alarm state, the OR gate output may trigger an audible alarm via a siren 162, a visual alarm via a light or light emitting diode (LED) 161 or may indicate an alarm state to the processor via the energy level detector interface 233 and processor bus 135. The reference voltages established by D to A converters 158 and 159 may be programmable through a digital processor or state machine via a digital bus 135 and an energy level detector interface circuit 233. One or more thresholds 163 and 164 may be established to provide reference levels for comparison to determine one or more alarm states. Thus, the circuit of FIG. 3 may be configured to monitor in real time the optical power at the receiver 11 for excess light or too little light to indicate a potential optical tap, tamper or other degradation of the optical signal.

A digital circuit equivalent to FIG. 3 may be developed. Analog to digital conversion of the logarithmic or linear amplifier 155 output followed by comparison of the digital result to digital thresholds either via software or digital hardware would indicate optical energy levels within limits or not. Additional filtering via averaging of digital conversions via a moving average or other digital filtering technique could replace or supplement filtering provided by analog filter 154. A digital implementation also offers information regarding an estimate of the measured optical signal power, both peak and average, by monitoring the analog to digital output via a computer interface.

The component sizes and types will depend upon the type of transmission desired. For example OC-3 cards may vary in size and certain component types from OC-192 cards.

While the cards may be placed in new boxes, the present invention also permits for the removal of existing optical transmission cards to be easily replaced by the enhanced security cards. The fibers are disconnected, the box 2 is simply opened and the amplitude-modulated-based card is removed. The card 1 is inserted into the bus 6 and the fibers are connected.

The card 1 of the present invention may thus provide existing boxes with continual breach localization and detection secure transmission mode capability.

Moreover, a separate OTDR which is space-consuming need not be provided.

While the energy level detector must be at the receiver side, the OTDR also could be located on the transmitter side. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A telecommunications monitoring method, comprising: sending an outgoing optical signal from a downstream termination point, located within an optical multiplexor box, of an optical fiber; receiving, an incoming signal comprising a reflection of the outgoing optical signal at the downstream termination point; splitting, within the optical multiplexor box, the incoming optical signal into a data optical signal and a test optical signal; receiving the test optical signal by an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) module within the optical multiplexor box; and processing the test optical signal, by the OTDR module, to test for a breach in the optical fiber associated with the outgoing optical signal.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein a wavelength band of the data optical signal and a wavelength band of the test optical signal are substantially equivalent.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein a wavelength band of the data optical signal and a wavelength band of the test optical signal do not overlap.
 21. A telecommunications monitoring method, comprising: sending, by an optical multiplexor box, an outgoing optical signal from a downstream termination point of an upstream optical fiber; receiving, by the optical multiplexor box, a reflected optical signal at the downstream termination of the upstream optical fiber; splitting the reflected optical signal into a data optical signal and a test optical signal; tapping the data optical signal to produce a tapped optical signal; processing the data optical signal to produce a data electrical signal indicative of data encoded in the reflected optical signal; processing the tapped optical signal to produce an electrical signal indicative of a power of the data optical signal; and performing optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) monitoring of the test optical signal, by an OTDR module embedded in the optical multiplexor box.
 22. A telecommunications signal processing method, comprising: sending, by an optical transceiver card, a amplitude-modulated optical signal from a downstream termination point of an optical fiber, wherein the amplitude-modulated optical signal includes a data optical signal of a first wavelength multiplexed with a test optical signal of a second wavelength; receiving, by the optical transceiver card at the downstream termination point of the optical fiber, a reflected signal comprising a reflection of the amplitude-modulated optical signal, the reflected signal including a reflected data optical signal and a reflected test optical signal; de-multiplexing the reflected data optical signal and the reflected test optical signal; detecting data encoded in the reflected data optical signal; and performing, by the optical transceiver card, optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) monitoring of the reflected test optical signal.
 23. An optical transceiver card for terminating an optical fiber, the optical transceiver card comprising: a printed circuit board to which a plurality of components are affixed, the plurality of components comprising: a fiber connector configured to receive a downstream termination point of the optical fiber; a wavelength-multiplexer configured to: transmit an outgoing optical signal via the optical fiber; receive an incoming optical signal via the optical fiber; and split the incoming optical signal into a data optical signal and a test optical signal, wherein a wavelength of the data optical signal and a wavelength of the test optical signal differ; an optical receiver configured to receive the data optical signal and produce an electrical signal indicative of data encoded in the incoming optical signal; and an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) module configured to: receive the test optical signal; and perform OTDR monitoring of the test optical signal.
 24. A method for monitoring optical fibers with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) module integrated on a transceiver card, the method comprising: sending, by the transceiver card located in an optical multiplexor box, an outgoing optical signal at a downstream termination of an optical fiber; receiving, by the transceiver card, an incoming optical signal at a downstream termination of an optical fiber; splitting, within the optical multiplexor box, the incoming optical signal into a data optical signal and a test optical signal; tapping the data optical signal to produce a tapped optical signal; processing, within the optical multiplexor box, the data optical signal to produce a data electrical signal indicative of data encoded in the incoming optical signal; processing the tapped optical signal to produce an electrical signal indicative of a power of the data optical signal; receiving the test optical signal by the optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) module; and monitoring, by the OTDR module, the optical fiber by performing OTDR monitoring of the test optical signal.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the incoming optical signal comprises a reflection of the outgoing optical signal. 